Fatal disseminated varicella infection in a patient on long-term oral corticosteroids

Zhuojian Zeng; Minglin Chen; Muyan Diao; Shengyuan Su; Fei Xue; Tuan Li; Yuehui Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2024.12.071

Fatal disseminated varicella infection in a patient on long-term oral corticosteroids

Am J Emerg Med. 2024 Dec 30:S0735-6757(24)00754-X. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2024.12.071. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Zhuojian Zeng¹, Minglin Chen², Muyan Diao³, Shengyuan Su⁴, Fei Xue⁵, Tuan Li², Yuehui Zhang⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Critical Care Medicine, Shenzhen Baoan Clinical Medical College of Guangdong Medical University,118 Longjinger Road, Baoan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518101, China.
² Department of Critical Care Medicine, Shenzhen Baoan Clinical Medical College of Guangdong Medical University,118 Longjinger Road, Baoan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518101, China; Department of Critical Care Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, 118 Longjinger Road, Baoan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518101, China.
³ Shenzhen International Travel Healthcare Center (Shenzhen Customs District Port Outpatient Clinics), 3203 Binhe Avenue, Futian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518033, China.
⁴ Department of Critical Care Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, 118 Longjinger Road, Baoan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518101, China.
⁵ Department of pathology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, 118 Longjinger Road, Baoan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518101, China.
⁶ Department of Critical Care Medicine, Shenzhen Baoan Clinical Medical College of Guangdong Medical University,118 Longjinger Road, Baoan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518101, China; Department of Critical Care Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, 118 Longjinger Road, Baoan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518101, China. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 39837726
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2024.12.071

Abstract

Primary varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection typically occurs in childhood and is generally mild. However, in immunocompromised patients, VZV-related diseases can be more severe. Fatal cases of disseminated varicella are still rare. We report a fatal case of disseminated varicella in a young adult on long-term oral corticosteroids.

Keywords: Disseminated varicella infection; Fatal varicella; Immunocompromised host.

Publication types

Case Reports